Chapter 1 Due to Maixibo Star not being a colony but a neutral industrial planet, it has a population clustering effect. Therefore, there are only five cities on the surface: one main city and four satellite cities. Han Xiao landed in the largest main city.

Looking down from high altitude, the cities of Maixibo Star have a strong industrial style, mainly consisting of huge spaceship factories. Some places even assemble large spaceships in the open air, and you can directly see the skeletal frames of these spaceship prototypes from high altitude. This planet doesn't have truly residential areas, only dormitories and entertainment facilities for mechanic workers, as well as various hotels for interstellar travelers.

In the center of the city is a conch-shaped mechanical floating city, which is the base of "Giant Soldier Constructor" Sedum. The whole structure is spiral, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. The base of the floating city is hung with sixteen 240-meter-high sentinel-type mechanical giants in a dormant state. They will automatically activate and attack intruders when attacked, making them very powerful.

The three branches of the Mechanic class each specialize in their own fields. Sedum is clearly an A-level Mechanic of the Armed branch, good at building powerful mechanical giants. Han Xiao, a Virtual Mechanic, is good at turning other people's machinery into his own shape, allowing other Mechanics to feel the vastness of the grasslands.

The main city of Maixibo Star has eight surface ports. The spaceship landed at Ground Port No. 3 according to the ground instructions and entered the hangar. Han Xiao went through simple procedures and led the disguised Hela and the others out of the airport, mingling with the crowd leaving the port and entering the city.

Whoosh—

The noisy heat wave hit their faces, and the crowd was bustling. The streets were full of creatures of various races, including the short Nilans, the tall Stone Giants, and even some arthropods, all interstellar citizens from different star clusters. Some were hawking, some were discussing where to find entertainment, and the interstellar universal translator allowed them to communicate with each other.

The voices were boiling, a bustling and prosperous scene of interstellar society.

"It's so lively here. They are all neutral planets, so why is Longtan so deserted?" Aurora looked around curiously.

"Because Longtan doesn't have a unique industry, and it's not friendly to foreign consortia."

Han Xiao shook his head and smiled. Areas with Super-A grades sitting in them are always popular. Longtan's poor management is entirely due to strategy problems. Ames doesn't want to develop it properly at all.

Moreover, in terms of the nature of the territory, Maixibo Star is a purely industrial planet, while Longtan is Ames's home. There are differences in the management model and openness of the two.

Sedum's strength also qualifies him to be a big shot. He is also a Mechanic with technical advantages, and he is also good at attracting investment, so it is easy to make a territory prosperous.

Whoosh—

At this moment, the sound of energy jets划过 the sky. Several people looked up and saw a mechanical guard formation flying overhead. This is the armed force Sedum uses to maintain治安, and also his own mechanical unit.

"Running a neutral planet is also quite profitable. Well, although my Black Star Army is involved in higher-level forces, setting up a neutral industrial planet seems like a good idea, I can focus on attracting韭菜(leeks)... Well, but this has to wait until the Secret War is over before I can consider it..."

Han Xiao rubbed his chin, pondered secretly, and thought about the army's business expansion.

Black Star's identity is quite well-known in the Shattered Star Ring. Fortunately, he disguised himself, so no one recognized him along the way. The group changed to a ground hover vehicle and came to a shipyard in the central area of the main city.

This shipyard is very large and magnificent. Han Xiao and the others stopped outside the gate and looked up at the floating virtual color sign, which read "Apex Cornerstone Group" in the interstellar common language.

This is one of the most reputable shipyards on Maixibo Star.

"This is the right place." Han Xiao nodded, opened the communicator, and the recruitment advertisement of Apex Cornerstone Group was on the screen.

This type of large shipyard recruits mechanics for a long time. The lowest entry requirement is a Class C rank or a Mechanic Technician Certificate issued by a Galaxy-level civilization—this is like the minimum academic qualification required by a company.

Han Xiao doesn't have a Mechanic Technician Certificate. That's something needed by research-oriented and life-oriented Super-power users. Its essence is to facilitate those researchers and technicians who don't like fighting. He doesn't need to take this kind of thing, and with his rank, he doesn't need to be assessed at all if he wants to get a certificate.

Super-power users possess extraordinary power. Some people use this power to carry out violence—such as Star Pirates, mercenaries, and bounty hunters, while others use their abilities for production. The five series of Super-power users are also a very important productive force and labor force in interstellar society.

Among them, the Mechanic class and the Magic class are the most popular, and some special ability users are also in good demand. Psychic power users are suitable for psychological adjustment, exploration and investigation, and other positions. Only martial artists have very worrying employment prospects because martial artists are best at hard labor. Robots can do this kind of thing, and they are much cheaper—after all, no foreman would specifically hire martial artists to move bricks!

The group walked into the shipyard. There were many customers in the reception hall, all of whom came to order spaceships. They were browsing the spaceship models they wanted and placing orders using the hall's self-service operation screens.

Han Xiao found an unmanned self-service operation screen and directly pressed the manual service button. The next moment, the screen switched to a female receptionist from the Universe Human race.

"Hello, esteemed customer, welcome to use the business services of Apex Cornerstone Group. How can I help you?"

"I'm here to apply for the position of Mechanic." Han Xiao stated his intention. The disguise was very effective, and he wouldn't be recognized.

"Okay, please follow the reception robot. There will be someone in charge of interviewing you."

A palm-sized white spherical robot flew over, wearing a miniature receptionist's uniform, which was very cute. It gave a proper salute and then led the way.

Leaving the reception hall all the way, passing through the outer factory area, and entering a large workshop, Han Xiao saw at a glance many low-level Mechanics working on lathes, assembling parts.

At this time, a well-dressed white-haired old man greeted him. His hair was tied into a small braid behind his head, with a smile on his face, looking quite amiable.

"Hello, I am Luke, a senior mechanical engineer at Apex Cornerstone Group."

"Your name is Luke?!" Han Xiao couldn't help staring at him, his eyes a little strange.

"Uh... is there something wrong?" The white-haired old man looked puzzled and tentatively asked, "Do you know me?"

"It's nothing." Han Xiao coughed, "It's just that a friend of mine has the same name as you."

"Haha, the translator basically transliterates names. The universe is so big, it's normal to have the same name." Luke laughed twice and then said, "May I ask what your name is?"

Right, I have to make up a fake name...

Han Xiao felt a surge of mischievousness, coughed, and smiled: "Just call me Barn."

Luke always felt that Han Xiao's smile had an indescribable strangeness, which made him a little scared and couldn't help his scalp tightening.

There are many Mechanic-class Star Pirates or mercenaries on Maixibo Star who have switched to working as shipbuilders. Could it be that this guy named Barn is also a Star Pirate who has switched careers?

Luke paused, brought the topic back on track, and said in a deep voice: "Our Apex Cornerstone Group is recruiting mechanics for a long time. You should have seen the conditions. Which test method do you want to use, show the Mechanic Technician Certificate or test your rank?"

"Test my rank."

Luke nodded, raised his hand and released a stream of Mechanical Force, and the energy fluctuation displayed in an instant was at the B-level level.

He quietly glanced at Han Xiao, and saw that Han Xiao's expression did not change. He nodded secretly, pressed the reception robot a few times, and a probe popped out from the robot's head. This is a device used to test Qili (Qi Force) energy levels.

"You know how to use this thing, right? Just release a stream of Mechanical Force towards the probe." Luke said.

Han Xiao let out a breath, carefully mobilizing the Mechanical Force in his body, for fear of releasing too much and exposing his A-level rank.

A stream of Mechanical Force shot out from his fingertip and hit the probe. Luke glanced at the test result, his face suddenly changed, and his tone suddenly became enthusiastic.

"You are a B+ level Mechanic?!"

Seems like it's still a little high... Han Xiao was helpless.

B+ is basically the most top-notch talent that a shipyard can recruit. A-level Super-power users are not cabbages. Although Calamity Grades are very common in the Secret War, in daily interstellar life, A-levels are rarely seen, and it is even more impossible for them to apply for a job at an ordinary shipyard.

"Is there any other test required?"

"No need, no need, we will directly give you the position and salary of a senior engineer, which is the treatment you deserve at your level."

Luke was very enthusiastic. In the group, B-level is a prerequisite for becoming a senior engineer, and you also need to accumulate merit, while B+ can directly become a senior engineer.

"Please wait a moment, I will let the higher-ups directly negotiate with you."

After saying that, he turned his head and reported the situation to the higher-ups, and then enthusiastically took Han Xiao to visit various areas of the shipyard.

Before long, several senior managers of Apex Cornerstone Group arrived and sincerely discussed salary issues. Han Xiao was mainly here for the specialization, and the two parties quickly signed a two-year work contract, including clauses that certain drawings must not be leaked.

——Of course, Han Xiao doesn't intend to abide by the contract. He signed the contract under the identity of "Barn" and plans to leave after getting the specialization. Even if his true identity is exposed one day, with his status in the interstellar world, how dare a mere shipyard pursue his breach of contract liability? He is truly a villain.

Moreover, he himself doesn't intend to harm other people's interests—I am a peak Calamity Grade working for you, what else do you want?

With the contract signed, Luke smiled and shook hands with Han Xiao.

"Apex Cornerstone Group warmly welcomes you to join us. I wish us a happy cooperation."

Han Xiao nodded, "What projects will I be responsible for?"

"Well, it's like this, the group recently received a high-level order from a large customer. The other party provided the drawings and needs us to mass-produce a relatively rare type of battleship. Our production line cannot manufacture some of the ship parts with high technical requirements. The drawings of these parts are very complex, and at least a B-level Mechanic can learn and manufacture them, so we have mobilized many senior engineers, but the progress is not ideal..."

"I understand, my job is to manufacture some parts." Han Xiao nodded.

"Yes, I will arrange your accommodation first, and then give you some of the drawings of the parts. You should have five days of free time to learn the drawings, and then you can use the group's factory to start manufacturing. Each senior engineer has a task target. You are a new member of the plan, and the construction period may be a bit tight," Luke explained.

No need for five days, as long as you give me the drawings, I can learn them in a second... Han Xiao shook his head and smiled secretly. Moreover, with the manufacturing capabilities of a Calamity Grade, mass-producing ship parts is like playing.

At this time, the panel finally reacted and popped up a mission.

[【Engineer】]

[Mission introduction: The first rule of a mechanic's work, a mechanic whose career is incomplete without using other people's resources to practice his skills!]

[Mission requirements: Use the resources of Apex Cornerstone Group to create 1500 products (type is not limited, but must be the business entrusted by the group), current progress: 0/1500]

[Reward: 6.5 million experience, specialization reward - 【Skilled Technician】]

"The mission has finally been triggered." Han Xiao was overjoyed.

Although the name of this specialization is a bit lame, the effect is still very good. Specializations that can enhance the cost-effectiveness of the main profession are always very high.

He now has a total of 12 mechanical specializations, 【Qi Force Modification】, 【Mechanical Analysis Comprehension】, 【Virtual Technology Specialization】, 【Mechanical Theory Summary】, 【Armament Mass Production Experience】, 【Flexible Weapon Application】, 【Super Electromagnetic Induction】, 【Elementary Mechanical Sensation】, 【Assembly Line Manufacturing Expert】, 【Advanced Mecha Pilot】, 【Mastery of Mechanical Truth】, 【Mechanical Force Sublimation · Apostle Body】, most of which were obtained from the main profession transfer.

The overall increase from the accumulation of mechanical specializations is very considerable, accumulating little by little.

……

In the next half of the day, Luke accompanied Han Xiao to learn about the areas of the shipyard. In the evening, his residence was finally arranged. He lived in the group's internal senior dormitory. Hela and the others had been acting as his bodyguards and lived in together.

After tidying up the room, Aurora couldn't help but ask: "Uncle, do you have ulterior motives for staying here to work?"

"Oh?" Han Xiao was curious.

"You actually want to steal commercial secrets and steal the drawings here," Aurora said excitedly, with a "you've been caught by me" expression.

"You're thinking too much, I don't need to do such a low-level thing." The corner of Han Xiao's mouth twitched, "It's good to buy whatever drawings I want, I'm not poor."

"Black Star, we're not really going to stay here for two years, are we?" Fording suddenly asked.

"Of course not, what are you thinking?" Han Xiao was helpless.

Fording sighed, "We've been running around with you for the past three months. You said it was to experience different lives and see more things, but I really can't think of how this can help you break through to Super-A Grade."

Han Xiao had to use excuses to prevaricate, "I've been fighting for seven years and haven't made any progress. Maybe relaxing will give me different gains."

Fording said helplessly: "Anyway, you have to know what you're doing. Your time is really running out. If you really can't break through, you have to make plans early. Whether it's asking Dragon Emperor to help or escaping from the Shattered Star Ring, you have to have a plan."

You, you speak as if I'm about to die. If only you were La Ji...

At this moment, the doorbell rang. Luke walked in with a thick stack of drawings, put them on the table, chatted casually, and then turned to leave.

These are the drawings of three parts. In order to prevent the technical leakage of the entire spaceship, each senior engineer gets the drawings of different parts and is responsible for the production of different links.

Han Xiao spent tens of seconds quickly browsing through the drawings, and the drawings of the three parts were identified by the panel and generated skills, completely mastered.

"The technical level of these three parts is a bit high... ordinary spaceships don't use these three parts. Only ultra-large spaceships need them..."

Han Xiao suddenly paused.

It seems that only star cluster-level technology spaceships will use these three components...

Combining these factors... could it be that the order Apex Cornerstone Group received was to build a star cluster-level flagship? Like the Amethyst Civilization's Diamond-level flagship?!

That is a manufacturing process that even star cluster-level civilizations have to keep secret!

Han Xiao's heart fluttered. He is not an Armed-class Mechanic and has always lacked drawings of large machinery. He only has a satellite fortress that he can show off. If he can get a drawing of a star cluster-level flagship, it would be a small unexpected gain.